Mechanically operated check valve



April 14, 1953 A. BERTEA 2,634,752

MECHANICALLY OPERATED CHECK VALVE Filed Dec. ,2, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 IN VEN TOR. 1 8521274 decmggcd y y 051753 lll'fl) exeeufor April 14, 1953 BERTEA 2,634,752

MECHANICALLY OPERATED CHECK VALVE Filed Dec. 2, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 amkww V y I W A '*A INVENTOR. flux 552754 deceased By 9 0517 MK executor fitlorne y Patented Apr. 14, 1953 MECHANICALLY OPERATED CHECK'VALVE Alex Bertea, deceased, late of Pasadena, Calif, by

H. Dexter McKay, executor, Puente, Calif; r

Application December 2, 1949, SerialNo.' 130,69 .i.

-.'Ihis invention relates to high pressure hydraulicvalves and is particularly intended for.

incorporation in hydraulic systems having large tubing diameters and .subjectto very rapid and extreme. variations in hydraulic pressure.

It is an object of the invention to provide a high pressure hydraulic valve which will have substantially no leakage even after extended periods of. use, this feature being especially important in the case of hydraulic systems of air-" planes used for long distance non-stop flights such as trans-ocean'tranSport planes andlong distance bombers. 1

.Parts of the hydraulic systems of airplanes:

may be at times subjected to very heavy temporary loads and it is another object of the invention to provide a high pressure hydraulic valve structure which will withstand heavy temporary overloads without distortion or excessive wear of any of the parts. 1 1

The temperatures under which the hydrauli systems or parts thereof of airplanes must function efficiently vary very widely, and sub-zero conditions and also. extreme heat may be e22- perienced in a single flight, it is accordingly 2. further object of the invention to provide a valve structure which will function satisfactorily even under such extreme temperature variations.

High pressure hydraulic valves, normally mechanically controlled usually require the application of very considerable force to the operating parts, which is an obvious disadvantage in service requiring minimum weight and fast operation of the valve, a still further object of the'lnvention is therefore to -provide a high pressure valve which may be quickly operated by small forces.

In valves operated by a centrally located plunger it can easily happen that the force ap- 4 plied to the plunger is not applied axially of the plunger but off center, through some misalignment of the operating mechanism, such off center application of operating forces will cause serious wear in high pressure hydraulic valves with consequent leakage and possible failure of the valve, therefore another object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic valve structure which is not appreciably affected by the ap-.'

'7 Claims. (01. lavestis .71.,1

'- byrthe operation of, stem projecting from the valve.

.. Another? object .of, the invention is to provide j avalve inwhichthe various parts may be assembled and removed through an end cap,-there-; by facilitating the inspection and replacement of parts.

Other objects and advantages of the invention willbe=apparent Home; study of the following specifications, read"inco'nnectionl with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. :1. is a central longitudinal section through a valve "incor vention;i

lFig.-'2,'is .a1cross section on the line IL-II" of Fig. 1; V .Fig. 3 is an end'iview'x'of a spring guide and retainer for. an" auxiliary pilot valve shown in Fig. 1, but drawn on.a larger scale;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the auxiliary pilot valve which is normally contained within' the spring guide. and retainer shown in Fig. 3;

Fig: 5' is an end view of a poppet valve included in the-valve structure,.loo'king in the direction of the arrow 5 in Fig; '1, and drawn on alarger 5 scale;

plication of operating forces applied off'center even to an amount not usually to be expected.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic valve, particularly designed for high pressure systems, in which certain parts can function as a check valve, while the whole valve can be released against high back pressure Fig. 6 is' an end view of the poppet valveshown in" Fig. "5 but as seen looking from the opposite direction;

I Fig. 7 is aperspective view of a flow guiding member forming part ofthe main valve, as seen looking from the-right in Fig. l, but drawn on a larger scale;

Fig.'- 8 is a fragmentary central vertical section of the valve drawn on -a larger scaleand show-"f mg theposition of the valve parts'at-the co'mmenoement of an opening movement'of the valve by an operating stem to release the valve against back pressure Fig. 9 is a'sction's'imilar to that of Fig.8 but showing the parts in the full open position of the valve; and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a piston like member of the main valve, having an elongated stem on which the flow guide shown in Fig. 7

is slidably mounted.

Referring to the drawings the numeral I in T Fig. 1 indicates generally a tubular valve body having a mounting flange 2 .at a closed end, and a removable cap 3 mounted in a threaded port at the opposite open end of the housing through V which all the parts of the valve, and all pressure seals, maybe'readily and accurately installed, or removed for inspection or replacement.

The valve bodyjs formed with lateral tubular oratingrthe features of the'in-;

a 3 projections 4 and 5 in which the inlet port and outlet port respectively are located.

Within the body is arranged an operating stem assembly comprising a stem 6 projecting outwardly of the valve body through a hole drilled in the flange 2, and a tubular stem mount I pressed into a bore in the valve body at the closed end, the stem mount being open at this end before being assembled in the valve body, The outer end of the stem is of considerably greater diameter than its inner end and the stem is formed with a collar 8 limiting its outward movement from the valve body. The inner end of the stem mount is accurately machined to a smaller diameter than an intermediate portion of the tubular mount and a hole is drilled through the inner end of the moimt for the-passage of the reduced diameter end of the stem. A compression spring 9 is arranged between the closed end of the mount and the collar 8 and is effective to normally hold the stem in; outward position in which the parts of the valve may operate freely as a check: valve. The inner end of the stem is crosscut as shown at m for a purpose later explained;

An accurately ground tube H is fittedi within the valve body, one end being positioned on the reduced end of the; stern: mount 1, while the other end is positioned by an inwardly extending thickened portion |2 of the valve body located between the inlet and the outlet ports.

7 Ports |3 are provided in the wall of the tube for the main how offluid through the tube fromthe inlet port and out the open end of the tube when the valve members; later described, are in open position.

The valve members" comprise a poppet valve lc'provid'ed at one end with; a circular projecting sealing ring |5- which is triangular in cross section. and seats against the: ground and face of tube asv indicated. at It. At its opposite endthe poppet valve is reduced in diameter and provided with two concentric sealing rings, or triangular ridges H and. I8, surrounding a central bore l9 extending axially through the poppet valve.

A pilot valve formed as a small circular plate seatsagainst ridges H and l8 and is held against them by a guiding and retaining member 2! termed as a cap sliding on the reduced end of the poppet valve and. provided with a radially projecting flange. The inner end surtace of cap 2| is formed with a hemispherical prcriection- 2-2: bearing against the center 01! plate pilotivalve 20,

which" is provided with a radiused ed'g'aso that the plate may tilt in the cap without danger of binding therein. The side wall of..:the cap is provided with openings 23- to provide a. passage. for fluid between ort 5 and the central bore IQ of the: poppet valve I4 when plate pilot valve 20 is cracked open.

A compression spring 24 is mounted between the radial flange projecting from. cap 2| and a spring end locating member 25 hearing. against end ca 3. v

The main valve generally indicated at 26 is formedof two parts, 21, 3|. the inner member 21" having a piston head 28 at one. end closely fitting the accurately ground tube I, which thus constitutes a cylinden and' a longitudinally extending tubular stem 29* which functions as an unseating member for plate valve 2'1. Poppet valve M i slidably mounted on stem 29. Holes 30 are provided in stem 29 for a purpose that will be explained later.

The second of thetwo main:- valveparts comprises a flow guiding member 3| slidably mounted on stem 29, with grooves 32 between fins 33 which fit within tube H, and a solid ring 34 at the inner end which will shut on the passage of fluid between the tube and member 3| until ring 34 is moved outwardly toward port 5 beyond the end of tube H.

The confronting faces of both the how guide member and the poppet valve are bored to recei've a light spring 35 urging the main valve to the left toward the closed position of the poppet valve, though the spring does not materially resist movement of the flow guide 3| to the right, as seen in Fig. 1, when the valve is functioning as a check valve, during which the inner part 2? of the valve is not moved.

It will be noted that tube serves to prevent direct imposition of surge forces on the main valve.

An apertured tubular member 36 is arranged around the poppet valve t4, one end of the tube 3% bearing against the inner end of tube I while the outer end. of tube 36 bears against end cap 3- End. cap 3 is thus efiective' to hold all the interior stationary parts in the housing in as rate relationship, and when removed, enables all working parts to be removed from the valve housing.

It will be understood that the usual 0 ring hydraulic sealing members 31 are positioned" wherever necessary.

In certain locations it may be an advantage to provide leather back up rings 33 as indicated in Figs. 8 and 9 between the valve housing and tube I 1 between the inlet and outlet ports.

It will be noted that the described construe seat surrounds the first and is provided with the vertical face of the righthand end of the tube II, which is preferably thickened outwardly adjacent this end. double seal arrangement is very eflective in reventing any leakage of the closed valve even after prolonged operation under the heavy hydraulic loads under which the valve is designed to operate.

When the stem 6 is pressed in against spring 9, it will push the piston head 28 to the right, as viewed in. the: drawings. and cause the hollow stem 23 to unseat the plate valve 20. Thisvalve serves as apilot valve and can-be: rather easily unseated since there is very little surfacearea exposed. to back pressure from the tubular projection or outlet port 5. Back pressure causes a flow of fluid past the pilot valve 20 and into the hollow stem 29. Fluid will flow through the apertures 30 in said stem to the space between the main valve member 3| and the poppet valve member Hi.

anced even though there is the spring 35 interposed between them. With the valve members 3| and M thus counterbalanced, it is a simplematter tofurther push the valve stem 6 to the. r ght until the valve members are in the posi;-;' tion of Fig. 9. This permits a back fiow from;

the outlet port to the inlet port 4.

' By reason of the counterbalancing operation it is possible to actuate the valve with a comparatively small degree of manual. or other force as compared to back pressures which may exist in the outlet member 5 and in the valve chamber on the outlet side of the main valve.

It will be seen that the poppet valve I4 is opened by the movement of the outer or flow member SI of the main valve, and that while operating as a check valve the flow member can slide back and forth on the inner member 21 of the main valve which can remain stationary with its head 28 resting against the inner end of stem 6.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is not desired that the invention should be limited to any of the details of construction shown and described herev in, except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a valve having a housing provided with axially spaced inlet and outlet ports; a main flow passage extending axially of the housing between said ports and a control stem extendng axially into said housing, a fully counterbalanced valve structure including stem extending into said housing, a main valve member slidable in and closely fitting said passage; and a pop et:

valve member mounted axially of the man valve and closing the outlet passage between the end 30 ing with said main valve a double closure for said of the passage and the outlet port, and constitutpassage in the closed position of the valve, the

control stem being efiective, in its opening move-- ment, to first open said poppet valve and then the main valve; a passage communicating with said main passage and opposite sides of the main valve and poppet valve, and a pilot valve in said passage which, when open will counterbalance the pressure on the valve members during the opening of the main and poppet valves by the control stem.

2. In a valve having a housing provided with axially spaced inlet and outlet ports; a main flow passage extending axially of the housing between said ports and a control stem extending axially into said housing, a fullycounterbalanced valve structure including stem extending into said housing, a main valve member slidable in and closely fitting said passage; and a poppet valve member mounted axiallyof the main valve and closing the outlet passage between the end of the passage and the outlet port, and constituting with said main valve a double closure for said passage in the closed position of the valve, the control stem being effective, in its opening movement, to first open said poppet valve and then the main valve; a passage for pressure fluid through the valve members, and a pilot valve, which, when operated at the commencement of the opening of the valve, will admit pressure fluid behind the main and poppet valve members to counterbalance the pressure acting thereon.

3. In a valve having a housing provided with axially spaced inlet and outlet ports; a main flow passage extending axially 0f the housing between said ports and a control stem extending axially into said housing, a fully counterbalanced valve structure i cluding stein extending into said housing, a main valve member slidable in and closely fitting said passage; and a poppet valve member mounted axially of the main valve and closing the outlet passage between the end of the passage and the outlet port, and constituting with said main valve a double closure for said passage in the closed position of the valve,

- said housing,

the control stem being effective, in its opening movement, to first open said poppet valve and then the main valve; a bypass passage extend-' ing through the main valve in alignment with a bypass passage extending through the poppet sages; and parts operative during the opening of the valve by the operating stem to first open the pilot valve to admit pressure between said poppet valve and main valve, and. also behind the main valve, to counterbalance the back pressure acting on the main and poppet valve members.

4. In a valve having a housing provided with axially spaced inlet and outlet ports; a main flow passage extending axially of the housing between said ports and a control stem extending axially into said housing, a fully counterbalanced valve structure including a cylindrical tube mounted between the valve ports, the tube being closed at one end but open toward the outlet port and having openin s through its wall in communication with the inlet port, and with the outer surface of the tube in fluid tight relation with said housing between said openings and the outlet port; a

piston valve mounted in said tube havin an axial passage formed in its periphery; intermediate piston back pressure bet een the poppet valve and main valve and behind the main valve to counterbalance the pressure acting on the main and poppet va ve members.

5. In a valve having a housing provided. with axially spaced inlet and outlet ports; a passage extending axially of the housing between said ports and a control stem extending axially into a fully counter-balanced valve structure including a cylindrical tube mounted between the valve ports, the tube being closed at one end but open toward the outlet port and having openings through its wall in communication with the inlet port and having the outer surface of the tube in fluid tight relation with said housing between said openings and the outlet port; a two part piston valve mounted in said tube, an inner part of the valve having a head toward the closed end of the tube, and hollow stem extending axially through the open end of the tube, and an outer part mounted slidably upon said stem and having a head projectable beyond the open end of the tube in the open position of said valve; a poppet valve mounted slidably upon the projecting hollow stem of the main valve and engaged by, and moved to open position by the outer part of the main valve, and effective to seal against a seat provided on the end of the cylindrical tube toward the outlet port in the closed position of the valve; and a pilot valve operable at the commencement of the opening of the valve to admit back pressure between the poppet valve and main valve and behind the main valve to counterbalance the pressure acting on the main and poppet valve members.

6. In a valve having a housing provided with axially spaced inlet and outlet ports; a passage extending axially of the housing between said therethrough and having passages ports and a control stem extending axially into said housing, a fully counter-balanced. valve structure including a cylindrical tube mounted between the valve ports, the tube being closed at one end but open toward the outlet port and having openings through its wallin communication with the inlet: port and having the outer surface of the tube in fluid tight relation with said housing. between said openings and the outlet. port; atwo part piston valve mounted in said tube, an inner part of the valve having. a head toward the closed end of the tube, and hollow stem extending axially through the open end of the tube, and an outer part mounted slidably upon said stem; and having a head projectable beyond the open. end. of the tube; in the open position of saidv valve; a poppet valve mounted slidably upon. the projecting hollow stem; ofv the main valve and engaged by, and moved to open position by the outer part of the main valve, and effective to seal against a seat provided on the end of the cylindrical tube toward the outlet port in the closed position of the valve; and a pilot valve mounted axially on the poppet valve' and opened by the projecting hollow stem of the main valve to admit pressure through said stem to the lower pressure side of the main valve, and openings therein, to the lower pressure side of the poppet valve, and between the head of the inner part of the main valve and the closed end of the tube; and resilient means urging the main valve, poppet valve and pilot valve toward closed position, the operating stem being. effective, when operated to move the valve'parts in opposition to the effort of the resilient means, whereby the valve operates as a-check valve at times by'the movement of the outer part of the main valve and poppet valve, and may be released against back pressure by inward pressure applied to the operating stem.

'7. In a valve havinga housing provided with axially spaced'inlet and outlet ports; a passage extending axially of the housing between said ports and a. control stem extending axially into said housing, a 'fully counter-balanced valve structure including a cylindrical tube mounted between the valve ports, the tube being closed at one end but open toward the outlet port and having openings through its wall in communication with the inlet port and having the outer surface of the tube in fluid tight relation with said housing between said openings and the out let port; a two part piston valve mounted in said tube, an inner part of the valve having a head toward the closed end of the tube, and hollow stem extending axially through the open end of the tube, and an outer part mounted slidably upon said stem and having a head projectable beyond the open end of the tube in the open position of said valve; a poppet valve mounted slidably' uponthe projecting hollow stem of the main valve and engaged by, and moved toopen position by theouter part of the main valve, and effective to seal against a seat provided on the end of the cylindrical tube toward the outlet port in. the closed. position of the valve; and a pilot valve mounted axially on the poppet valve and opened by the projecting hollow stem of the; main. valve to admit pressure. through said stemto the lower pressure side of the main valve, and openings in the hollow stem, to the lower pressure side of the poppet valve, and between the head of the inner part of the main valve and the closed end of the tube; resilient means arranged. between the poppet valve and the. head of the outer part of the main valve; and resilient meansurging the main valve, poppet valve and. pilot valve toward closed position, the operating stem. being effective, when operated to move the. valve parts in opposition to the effort of the resilient means, whereby the valve operates as a check valve at times by the movement of the outer part of the main valve and poppet valve, and may be released against back pressure by inward pressure applied to the operating stem.

H. DEXTER McKAY. Eatecutor of the estate of Alex Bertea, deceased.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,215,146 Haeseler Feb. 6, 1917 1,998,913 Wheaton Apr. 23, 1935 2,355,692 Allen Aug. 15, 1944 2,426,065 Stevens Apr. 19, 1947 2,460,196 Simpson Jan. 25, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 420,663 Germany of 1925 

